Spain and Argentina are set to compete for the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina advanced to the final after a dramatic semifinal victory over England, while Spain secured their spot with a commanding performance against France.
Argentina's path to the final was nearly derailed in their semifinal match against England. After trailing for much of the game, Lionel Messi ignited a late comeback. England took the lead in the 55th minute with a goal from Anthony Gordon, but Argentina's persistent pressure eventually paid off. In the 85th minute, Messi assisted Enzo Fernandez, who scored from outside the penalty box to equalize. Lautaro Martinez then scored the winning goal in stoppage time, heading home a pass from Messi in the 92nd minute to complete the 2-1 comeback.
This is not the first time Argentina has overcome a deficit in the tournament. In the Round of 16, they erased a 2-0 second-half deficit against Egypt with three goals in 13 minutes.
Spain, meanwhile, has advanced through the tournament with a near-flawless record, shutting out opponents in six of their seven matches. Their only blemish was a 2-1 quarterfinal victory against Belgium. In their semifinal against France, Spain capitalized on an early opportunity. A foul in the penalty box in the 22nd minute resulted in a penalty kick, which Mikel Oyarzabal converted to give Spain the lead.
Pedro Porro extended Spain's lead in the 58th minute, scoring after a pass from Dani Olmo. The Spanish defense then held firm against French attempts to equalize.
Argentina aims to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Italy is the only other nation to have achieved consecutive World Cup titles, in 1934 and 1938.
The World Cup Final match is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FOX. Streaming is available on FOX One and FOX Sports.